Mother hassled while breastfeeding

I forgot to share this with you last week. This happened at a mall I frequent quite a bit. Many of my friends have breastfed their babies in this play area. Iowa law allows women to breastfeed "essentially" any where.

CEDAR RAPIDS Ã¢â‚¬â€œ A Cedar Rapids mom is upset after she said a Lindale Mall security guard gave her guff for breastfeeding her child in the mall.

State law defends women who want to breastfeed, and they can do it essentially anywhere.

Bonnie McCall, 24, Cedar Rapids, was feeding her five-week-old son Nolan at Lindale on May 2.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s our legal right to nurse, where ever we want. Even if it offends people. ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s not our problem, weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re feeding our child.Ã¢â‚¬Â

And yet, McCall said a security guard at Lindale Mall hassled her when she went shopping. She had Nolan with her and since he was hungry and fussy she breastfed him at the child play area in the mall.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“And he told me that thereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a family restroom for that,Ã¢â‚¬Â said McCall.

She says that restroom was at the other end of the mall.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“He told me he had to say something to me because people complained and they were afraid for their children,Ã¢â‚¬Â said McCall.

This isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t the first time McCall said she got looks or grief from others, but she said this is the first time an employee at a store said something.

Lisa Rowe, a spokesperson for the mall, said sometimes they let parents know that the mall has a special spot they can use, if they want.

McCall said the guard didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t make it sound that way.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“Its that he very clearly wanted me to go to the family restroom,Ã¢â‚¬Â said McCall.

McCall isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t only upset at the mall, but also at the people that complained.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“It would be nice if people understand it, because breastfeeding is not the easy choice, it really isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t,Ã¢â‚¬Â said McCall. Ã¢â‚¬Å“ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s the free choice.Ã¢â‚¬Â

In response to this, McCall said she and other mothers are planning a nurse-in for May 9, which happens to also be Mothers Day.

STATEMENT FROM LINDALE MALL Ã¢â‚¬â€ Lindale Mall fully supports mothers rights in every capacity. Our overarching goal includes perfecting the customer experience at Lindale Mall, which is evident by providing such amenities as the soft-play area and family restroom for our family focused customers. Action has been taken to address this issue and we appreciate the passion of our customers that make Lindale Mall a special place.

Iowa also has a state law that allows breastfeeding mothers exempt from serving on jury duty if they can prove they also are responsible for their childÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s daily care.

Editor's Note: Commenting for this story has been disabled.

I forgot to share this with you last week. This happened at a mall I frequent quite a bit. Many of my friends have breastfed their babies in this play area. Iowa law allows women to breastfeed "essentially" any where.

CEDAR RAPIDS Ã¢â‚¬â€œ A Cedar Rapids mom is upset after she said a Lindale Mall security guard gave her guff for breastfeeding her child in the mall.

State law defends women who want to breastfeed, and they can do it essentially anywhere.

Bonnie McCall, 24, Cedar Rapids, was feeding her five-week-old son Nolan at Lindale on May 2.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s our legal right to nurse, where ever we want. Even if it offends people. ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s not our problem, weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re feeding our child.Ã¢â‚¬Â

And yet, McCall said a security guard at Lindale Mall hassled her when she went shopping. She had Nolan with her and since he was hungry and fussy she breastfed him at the child play area in the mall.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“And he told me that thereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a family restroom for that,Ã¢â‚¬Â said McCall.

She says that restroom was at the other end of the mall.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“He told me he had to say something to me because people complained and they were afraid for their children,Ã¢â‚¬Â said McCall.

This isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t the first time McCall said she got looks or grief from others, but she said this is the first time an employee at a store said something.

Lisa Rowe, a spokesperson for the mall, said sometimes they let parents know that the mall has a special spot they can use, if they want.

McCall said the guard didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t make it sound that way.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“Its that he very clearly wanted me to go to the family restroom,Ã¢â‚¬Â said McCall.

McCall isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t only upset at the mall, but also at the people that complained.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“It would be nice if people understand it, because breastfeeding is not the easy choice, it really isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t,Ã¢â‚¬Â said McCall. Ã¢â‚¬Å“ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s the free choice.Ã¢â‚¬Â

In response to this, McCall said she and other mothers are planning a nurse-in for May 9, which happens to also be Mothers Day.

STATEMENT FROM LINDALE MALL Ã¢â‚¬â€ Lindale Mall fully supports mothers rights in every capacity. Our overarching goal includes perfecting the customer experience at Lindale Mall, which is evident by providing such amenities as the soft-play area and family restroom for our family focused customers. Action has been taken to address this issue and we appreciate the passion of our customers that make Lindale Mall a special place.

Iowa also has a state law that allows breastfeeding mothers exempt from serving on jury duty if they can prove they also are responsible for their childÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s daily care.

But I also think we can't deny that there are INSANE Blarts out there. I worked retail for years and some certainly do view the mall as their own personal universe to rule as they wish. And they certainly do hassle people for ridiculous and often imagined reasons. I don't think its fair to assume that the mother was being unreasonable either.

But I also think we can't deny that there are INSANE Blarts out there. I worked retail for years and some certainly do view the mall as their own personal universe to rule as they wish. And they certainly do hassle people for ridiculous and often imagined reasons. I don't think its fair to assume that the mother was being unreasonable either.

Because I've heard hundreds of women say that they BF in public with absolutely no issues. But they are the type of women to be discreet. I've also witnessed people in public NOT being discreet at all.

That leads me to believe that when done with enough discretion, most people don't even notice! When it gets noticed enough to where people complain (like in this story) it's more than likely because it wasn't done discretely.

Because I've heard hundreds of women say that they BF in public with absolutely no issues. But they are the type of women to be discreet. I've also witnessed people in public NOT being discreet at all.

That leads me to believe that when done with enough discretion, most people don't even notice! When it gets noticed enough to where people complain (like in this story) it's more than likely because it wasn't done discretely.

There was this dude in Eskimo Joe's last time we went that was like, hardcore staring. I was starting to wonder if he was waiting for like, a slip-up. Haha. Another person at that table was giving me dirty looks though, but eh, they can suck it.

There was this dude in Eskimo Joe's last time we went that was like, hardcore staring. I was starting to wonder if he was waiting for like, a slip-up. Haha. Another person at that table was giving me dirty looks though, but eh, they can suck it.

Natalie, proud Mommy to Henry (born 12/26/08) and Madeleine (born 5/25/11).

From:
felixthenat

To: Andrea2500

Posted: May-14 01:43 PM (9 of 134)

Mine hasn't looked like that for months and months. I would love for it to look engorged again. Funny, all my mom friends nurse their kids without a cover in front of me and I couldn't even tell you what their boobs look like.

Mine hasn't looked like that for months and months. I would love for it to look engorged again. Funny, all my mom friends nurse their kids without a cover in front of me and I couldn't even tell you what their boobs look like.

Natalie, proud Mommy to Henry (born 12/26/08) and Madeleine (born 5/25/11).

From:
Threeberries

To: captainkirk

Posted: May-14 05:05 PM (10 of 134)

That reminds me of a creepy moment.

I was at the grocery store with Seamus in his Moby wrap. I had this random guy start talking to me about it which I'm usually fine with because people are curious about it. So he asks me "Those are the ones you can breastfeed the babies in, Right?"

I said yes.

So he comes over and takes a peak in my moby wrap and says "Oh. He is just sleeping"

This random guy was trying to look at me breastfeeding my son. I was so creeped out!!

That reminds me of a creepy moment.

I was at the grocery store with Seamus in his Moby wrap. I had this random guy start talking to me about it which I'm usually fine with because people are curious about it. So he asks me "Those are the ones you can breastfeed the babies in, Right?"

I said yes.

So he comes over and takes a peak in my moby wrap and says "Oh. He is just sleeping"

This random guy was trying to look at me breastfeeding my son. I was so creeped out!!

Ugh! I had one of those moments too! Well, not as bad, but still with a total stranger.

So, I was at prom this year, because I helped and they let me go to it (blah blah blah). And this guy comes up and was like, "So, you're married?""Yes.""With a baby?" "Um. Yes.""Your boobs are pretty big. I guess you're breastfeeding?"WTF. "Yes...""Oh. Do you like it?""Uh, I guess. I mean, I'm just feeding her. No big deal.""Oh. How many times do you have to do it a day?"

And it went on like this for about 5 minutes until my husband came back and saved me, lol.

Ugh! I had one of those moments too! Well, not as bad, but still with a total stranger.

So, I was at prom this year, because I helped and they let me go to it (blah blah blah). And this guy comes up and was like, "So, you're married?""Yes.""With a baby?" "Um. Yes.""Your boobs are pretty big. I guess you're breastfeeding?"WTF. "Yes...""Oh. Do you like it?""Uh, I guess. I mean, I'm just feeding her. No big deal.""Oh. How many times do you have to do it a day?"

And it went on like this for about 5 minutes until my husband came back and saved me, lol.

Sometimes a lot of us forget what NIP can include. I was at an event a few months ago where a mom decided to NIP. She was wearing a tube top and she pulled that tube top down around her waste while she nursed her child.

Personally, I don't care about seeing a woman's boobs. But, being a 40DDD there is NO WAY I will NIP. I can't nurse my child without a full on display so I just don't. But apparently not everyone feels that way.

But I bet some people might have a problem with that.

Sometimes a lot of us forget what NIP can include. I was at an event a few months ago where a mom decided to NIP. She was wearing a tube top and she pulled that tube top down around her waste while she nursed her child.

Personally, I don't care about seeing a woman's boobs. But, being a 40DDD there is NO WAY I will NIP. I can't nurse my child without a full on display so I just don't. But apparently not everyone feels that way.

I don't get it. My DH is always telling me that it doesn't matter to men whether there is a baby attached or not...it's still a boob to them. I just don't get it....My leaky, scabbed up, and engorged breasts should not be attractive to anyone!!

We have a friend who is breastfeeding and she doesn't like to wear shirts now. It makes DH really uncomfortable when we go over because she has no qualms in being topless and he can't help but look. I told him if she didn't want people to look then she would wear a damn shirt.

lol

I don't get it. My DH is always telling me that it doesn't matter to men whether there is a baby attached or not...it's still a boob to them. I just don't get it....My leaky, scabbed up, and engorged breasts should not be attractive to anyone!!

We have a friend who is breastfeeding and she doesn't like to wear shirts now. It makes DH really uncomfortable when we go over because she has no qualms in being topless and he can't help but look. I told him if she didn't want people to look then she would wear a damn shirt.

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